Interactive display packaging

ABSTRACT

Interactive display packaging is disclosed. A plastic display package is constructed to securely hold a product, and contains one or more apertures to allow the product to touched while it remains secure in the package. The package is constructed so that it is free standing. When packed for shipping or display, a plurality of containers are placed into a five-paneled tray with appropriate openings for the product to be viewed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the present invention is display packaging for retail merchandise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Clear plastic bulk display packaging is well known in the retail industry, and warehouse retailers are the primary users of such packaging. This type of packaging has several features. First, it is significantly larger than the merchandise, and is difficult to open, which deters theft. Second, the packages are usually designed to stand up within a large shipping carton, such that removal of the carton reveals a pre-assembled display of product. Third, the packaging tends to be sturdy and fairly rigid, protecting the contents from damage. Fourth, some packaging provides structural support for the shipping container. Examples of this type of packaging can be found in U.S. Design Pat. No. D412,631, Green; U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,662, Green; U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,420, Green; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,305, Green.

[0003] Inherent in the design of this type of packaging is the inability to touch and manipulate the product, which may be desirable. For example, where the product is a tool, manipulation provides information about the tool's operation, and prospective purchasers are more apt to buy the product if they can assess its operation prior to purchase. Other products may also invite customer interaction that leads to a purchase. Packages that invite the customer to “Try Me!” are common, but they are not common in oversize display packaging. Therefore, it is desirable to have a display package that retains the aforementioned features, yet allows the product to be touched without removing it from the packaging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides a packaging assembly for shipping and displaying a plurality of products, with the added benefit of allowing prospective purchasers to touch and manipulate the product without removing it from the package. Display packaging is typically used for smaller items that are subject to theft, and not easily displayed in large warehouse type stores that contain pallets of product in a single display.

[0005] In a first separate aspect of the present invention, a display package encloses a product and prevents it from being easily removed, while at least one aperture in the package allows prospective purchasers to touch the product without removing it from the package. Product manipulation is enabled while theft is deterred.

[0006] In a second separate aspect of the present invention, a display package is configured so that it stands upright without support. Product display options are maximized.

[0007] In a third separate aspect of the present invention, a five-paneled tray secures a plurality of packages for shipping, and is specifically contoured to allow unobstructed viewing of the product when displayed for sale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an unassembled book-fold package with apertures.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a side view of an unassembled book-fold package.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a plan view of an unassembled book-fold package with apertures.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a plan view of an assembled book-fold package with apertures.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a side view of an assembled book-fold package.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tray for a plurality of assembled display packages.

[0014]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tray containing a plurality of assembled display packages with apertures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the display packaging is typically larger than the product, and is typically fabricated with thermoformed plastic. The plastic used may be comprised mainly of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Packages may also be comprised mainly of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), which can enhance recycling potential. Other suitable plastics may also be used, including combinations of the plastics listed above.

[0016] The large size of the packaging provides a pleasing display, and the large size combined with its tamper-resistant qualities deters theft.

[0017] A typical “clamshell” package is one that is typically made of one piece of plastic, with a plastic “hinge” that connects the front portion and the rear portion of the package, and the package is flexed at the hinge to close the clamshell over the product, and the clamshell is then sealed together. A product information insert card can be placed between the front and rear portions prior to sealing. A clamshell can be formed with a base so that the package will be self-standing, or separate “feet” can be attached to the clamshell to make it self-standing. Most often, however, a clamshell is not self-standing, but has a flange around the entire package that is held upright in a tray with a slot for the flange, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. D412,631.

[0018] Sealing is typically accomplished by heating selected points of the front and rear portions of the package material to their melting point, which joins the halves together. Sealing is done either at specific spots “spot-sealing,” or along the outer perimeter of the package, or the perimeter of any aperture. Packages can also be sealed using a combination of spot-sealing and perimeter sealing. A common technique to heat the plastic to its melting point uses radio frequency waves, called RF sealing. Adhesives can also be used to seal packages, including adhesives cured by exposure to external energy, such as heat or light. For example, a common method of sealing packages is with UV light curing adhesives.

[0019] A tri-fold package is a variation of the clamshell package that provides the package with a stable base so it can stand upright without other support. A tri-fold is so named because when it is viewed from the side, the shape of the package is triangular, with the front and back panels of the package meeting at one of the triangle's points at the package top, and one of the triangle's sides acting as a base.

[0020] A third style of package can be referred to as a book-fold package, which can have a rectangular profile, and a base that allows the package to be self-standing. FIGS. 1-3 depict a book-fold package prior to insertion of the product. The triangular-shaped central portion 1 acts as a stable base 2 for the package, and acts as a barrier to product removal by providing a continuous bottom surface. The front member 3 and rear member 4 of the package are folded up on either side of the triangular-shaped central portion 1, enclosing the product and any product information insert cards, and the front and rear members 3, 4 are sealed together as described above. Four spot-sealing points 6 are shown in FIGS. 1-5.

[0021] A preferred embodiment has an aperture that allows prospective purchasers to touch the product without removing it from the package. FIGS. 1-3 depict a book-fold package prior to assembly that is designed to hold a screwdriver (not shown) and a box of bits (not shown). When the package is folded over, the aperture 8 on the front member 3 matches the aperture 10 on the rear member 4, creating an aperture that extends through the entire package, as shown in FIGS. 4-5. Also when folded over, a contoured cavity on the front 14 matches up with the cavity on the rear 16. The cavities 14, 16 in the assembled package (FIGS. 4 & 5) enclose the top portion of the screwdriver (not shown), while the bottom portion of the screwdriver (not shown) extends into the aperture 12. This allows the bottom portion of the screwdriver to be manipulated while the upper portion remains securely in the package cavity 14, 16. Contoured cavities can be molded on both halves of the package, as described above, or on one side, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3-5, where the cavity for the box of bits 18 on the front member 3 matches up to a flat, uncontoured portion of the rear member 4.

[0022] Other embodiments may have an aperture on one half of the package, so that the aperture only opens on one side, or an aperture on one side that is a different size or shape than the other side, depending on the product and the method of manipulation. Other embodiments may contain multiple apertures, in any of the manners described above, or any combinations thereof.

[0023] The interactive display packaging may be free standing, or it may require a tray with a slot for the package flange, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. D412,631. In a preferred embodiment, the interactive display package is a free standing book-fold design, and is held in a tray for shipping and display. FIG. 6 shows an empty five-paneled tray that is used to hold the display packs. FIG. 7 shows a tray filled with a plurality of display packs 20, and has a front panel 22 that is specifically contoured to retain the packages, yet allows the product within the package to be viewed without obstruction.

[0024] Accordingly, an improved display package assembly is disclosed. Although embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A display package for interactively displaying a product, comprising a front member with a substantially planar portion; a rear member with a substantially planar portion and adapted to mate with the front member; wherein the front member and rear member are adapted to prevent easy removal of the product, at least one of the members defines at least one aperture, and such apertures are adapted to allow touching of the product while it remains in the package.
 2. The display package of claim 1, further comprising at least one base member that is connected with at least one of the other members.
 3. The display package of claim 2, wherein at least one of the base members is adapted to support the package to stand upright.
 4. The display package of claim 1, wherein the front member and rear member are connected with a base member to form a book-fold package.
 5. The display package of claim 1, further comprising a product insert card between the front and rear members.
 6. The display package of claim 1, wherein the front and rear members are fabricated from thermoformed plastic.
 7. The display package of claim 6, wherein the thermoformed plastic is substantially comprised of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
 8. The display package of claim 6, wherein the thermoformed plastic is substantially comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
 9. The display package of claim 6, wherein the thermoformed plastic is substantially comprised of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG).
 10. The display package of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the package is substantially transparent.
 11. The display package of claim 1, wherein the package is substantially larger than the product.
 12. The display package of claim 1, wherein at least one of the members substantially conforms to the shape of at least a portion of the product.
 13. The display package of claim 12, wherein the front and rear members define a void between them that is adapted to hold at least a portion of the product.
 14. The display package of claim 1, wherein the members are joined together.
 15. The display package of claim 1, wherein the members are fused together by heating at least one of the members to its melting point at the point where it is joined to the other member.
 16. The display package of claim 11, wherein the heating is accomplished by using radio frequency waves.
 17. A packaging assembly for shipping and displaying a plurality of products, comprising a plurality of display packages, each pack configured to hold at least one of a plurality of products, each package defining an aperture that allows a customer to touch the product without removing it from the package, and each package adapted to be free-standing; a display stand including a five-paneled tray for holding a plurality of display packages upright in a row, wherein the tray has a base panel that is solid or cutout, two side panels, front and rear panels that are shaped to restrain the display packages yet allow viewing of the majority of the package, wherein the tray is filled with a plurality of display packs.
 18. A display package for interactively displaying a product, comprising a front member with a first substantially planar portion; a rear member with a second substantially planar portion and adapted to mate with the first substantially planar portion; wherein at least one of the members has a portion that is contoured such that when it is mated with the other member they define a void space between them adapted to hold at least a portion of the product, wherein the front member and rear member are adapted to prevent easy removal of the product, and wherein at least one of the members defines at least one aperture, and such apertures are adapted to allow touching of the product while it remains in the package.
 19. The display package of claim 18, farther comprising at least one base member that is connected with at least one of the other members.
 20. The display package of claim 19, wherein at least one of the base members is adapted to support the package to stand upright.
 21. The display package of claim 18, wherein the front member and rear member are connected with a base member to form a tri-fold package.
 22. The display package of claim 18, further comprising a product insert card between the front and rear members.
 23. The display package of claim 18, wherein the front and rear members are fabricated from thermoformed plastic.
 24. The display package of claim 23, wherein the thermoformed plastic is substantially comprised of polyvinyl chloride.
 25. The display package of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the package is substantially transparent.
 26. The display package of claim 18, wherein the members are sealed together.
 27. The display package of claim 18, wherein the members are fused together by heating at least one of the members to its melting point at the point where it is joined to the other member.
 28. The display package of claim 27, wherein the heating is accomplished by using radio frequency waves.
 29. The display package of claim 18, wherein the package is substantially larger than the product.
 30. The display package of claim 18, wherein at least one of the members substantially conforms to the shape of at least a portion of the product. 